Writing in the Computer Age (Editing)
Of course, the editing portion of the writing process is usually the one that most would list as their most-dreaded part. I am so happy to be living in an age where computers bring my words almost as quickly as they come to mind. Besides, my handwriting is atrocious.
A good word processing program also allows me to edit "on the fly" (as I write), and that cuts down on the amount of time I must devote to this step later. Some programs will even point out spelling and grammar errors as you write, helping you edit. I can't say I always take the advice of Microsoft Word, but it's nice to have the option.
That being said, I still spend a lot of time editing. And I still do not catch all of my errors. I can read a story over and over and still find mistakes, so I know the editing process can be never-ending. I still find spelling mistakes and punctuation errors. I still find unintended run-on sentences, incomplete sentences, and tense issues. The computer age is amazing and constantly changing, but even though it makes writing easier for me, it will never take the human element out of this creative process.
One of my favorite things to do, after writing, is revision. This, I have decided, is very different from editing. I find myself "playing with a puzzle" that I, myself, have created. I rearrange the pieces, delete or combine characters, add dialogue, and delete entire sections of text in lieu of a new idea. I enjoy meticulously digging into the text and manipulating it as if it were clay in my hands.
A good word processing program also allows me to edit "on the fly" (as I write), and that cuts down on the amount of time I must devote to this step later. Some programs will even point out spelling and grammar errors as you write, helping you edit. I can't say I always take the advice of Microsoft Word, but it's nice to have the option.
That being said, I still spend a lot of time editing. And I still do not catch all of my errors. I can read a story over and over and still find mistakes, so I know the editing process can be never-ending. I still find spelling mistakes and punctuation errors. I still find unintended run-on sentences, incomplete sentences, and tense issues. The computer age is amazing and constantly changing, but even though it makes writing easier for me, it will never take the human element out of this creative process.
One of my favorite things to do, after writing, is revision. This, I have decided, is very different from editing. I find myself "playing with a puzzle" that I, myself, have created. I rearrange the pieces, delete or combine characters, add dialogue, and delete entire sections of text in lieu of a new idea. I enjoy meticulously digging into the text and manipulating it as if it were clay in my hands.